Reform Scotland, an independent non-party think-tank, has called for the abolition of fuel duty and vehicle excise duty.

It wants them replaced by a national system of road pricing, whereby people pay according to which roads they use and when.

Their report highlights three main areas of concern – increasing emissions, congestion and unfairness/inequality.

These are all matters that exercise me greatly.

In an independent Scotland, if such a thing comes about, Transport Scotland and local authorities will have responsibility for the implementation of such a scheme.

Frankly, I would not envy them the task.

The benefits of such a scheme are attractive – at first glance.

Such a move might see us using cars only when we need to and therefore reduce the associated emissions and congestion.

However, a few drawbacks also exist, especially in a country as rural as ours.

A toll scheme would disproportionately disadvantage those residents living outside of the urban areas, who must travel to access shops, schools and local services and also have poor public transport alternatives.

Additionally, the variable costs suddenly levied on businesses by tolls would potentially increase inflation and the cost of goods until the new cost structure became better understood and reflected in prices.

In the final analysis, one obvious point will prevent this suggestion being actively pursued: It’s not a vote winner.

Think-tanks have it easy.

They can sit in glorious detached isolation and propose all manner of changes to the way our society works with impunity.

However, little gets done that won’t be attractive to the electorate.

As we enter a period of political instability, the last thing our political masters will want is unnecessary diversions away from the only matter that exercises them – the independence debate.

Road pricing is of little interest just now.

Our time will come but, unfortunately, the greater good sadly plays second fiddle to the political will.

For my part, the 2014 independence referendum can’t come soon enough, so that Scotland can then start to get serious about the issues holding us back.